Correlates of overweight and obesity among school going children of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are important determinants of health leading to adverse metabolic changes and increase the risk of non-communicable diseases. Following the increase in adult obesity, the proportion of overweight and obese children and adolescents has also been increasing. Erroneous life style and food habits are mainly responsible for rising graph of obesity. Hence, the present study was undertaken to study the magnitude of overweight/obesity and its correlates among school-age children ranging from 5-15 years, on the basis of 85th and 95th percentile of body mass index (BMI). Result showed the prevalence of overweight and obesity as 10.33% and 3.33%, respectively. Among number of other correlates related with life style, Kapha predominant Prakriti evolved as an important predictor of obesity. Data of this study clearly delineates that obesity is an increasing malady in rural and semi urban populations also on the pattern of metro cities.